# Root Down vs Barrier

Root Down and Barrier both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Root Down's written reviews are positive against 0% of Barrier's. Barrier's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 27 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Root Down against 4.0 for Barrier. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Root Down's written reviews are positive against 0% of Barrier's.

Root Down ships an update every 27 months, Barrier every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and August 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Root Down | Barrier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/root-down/id772166474/reviews) | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-strategy-board-game/id6762404861/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Martin Grider](https://appshunter.io/developer/309543466) | [Atreides LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1127240662) |

## What reviewers say

### Root Down

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/root-down/id772166474)

An original abstract strategy game for two players with unique movement rules. Figure out how to move your pieces to capture your opponent's and win. Offers AI play and pass-and-play modes with variable setups.

**Highlights:** Abstract strategy gameplay, Unique piece movement rules, AI opponent, Pass-and-play mode, Variable game setups

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Barrier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barrier-strategy-board-game/id6762404861)

This abstract strategy game challenges two players to outmaneuver their opponent. Build your path to victory by breaking down barriers, capturing pieces, or outscoring your rival. Enjoy deep tactics with simple rules.

**Highlights:** Abstract strategy gameplay, Two-player competitive modes, Multiple victory conditions, Solo AI challenges, Online multiplayer, Pass and Play local multiplayer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Root Down free?

Root Down is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Barrier free?

Barrier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Root Down or Barrier?

Root Down and Barrier are both rated 4.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Root Down or Barrier have ads?

Neither Root Down nor Barrier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Root Down or Barrier?

Root Down ships an update every 27 months, and Barrier every 3 months. Most recently, Root Down was updated on June 7, 2026 and Barrier on August 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*